Dispenser for collapsible tubes



June 30, 1953 R. H. TEAL DISPENSER FOR coLLAPsIBLE TUBES Filed May 24,1948 JNVENToR. /P/ M 7:54a BY $2 Patented `lune 30, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT ori-ICE v 2,643,795 DISPENSER FOR CoLLAPsIELE TUBES Roy H. Teal,La Grange, Ga. Application May 24, 194s, serial No. 28,819

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates todispensers of the type which hold a collapsibletoothpaste tube and permit of itsbeing progressively squeezed from itsclosed end to its dispensing orice.

It is `among the objects of the present invention to provide a device ofthe class described which is characterized by simplicity and eiliciencyof operation, and particularly from the standpoint of exchanging anempty toothpaste tube for a f ull one. Y

Another object is the provision of the foregoing advantages in a devicewhich is both simple and inexpensiveA to manufacture and is also durablein service..V

Still another object is to provide a novel device for holding acollapsible toothpaste tube and dispensing the contents thereof, whichalso holds vone or more toothbrushes or other articles in readilyaccessible manner.

The invention, then, comprisesthe features hereinafter fully describedand as particularly pointed out in the claim, the following descriptionand the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain -illustrativeembodiment of the invention, this being indicative of but one of anumber of ways in which the teachings of the y invention maybe employed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an. exploded view, in perspective, of the improvedtoothpaste dispenser of the pres- 'ent invention, thefront and topmembers of the housing therefor being shown as integral and in elevatedposition.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the novel toothpastedispenser.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken from within the housing and atthe upper end thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 2 and 3designate a pair of vertically disposed, rectangular shaped side-wallmembers which are arranged in parallelism and connected along theircorrespondingly rearward edges to a vertically disposed, similarlyshaped rear-wall member or panel 4. According to a permissive embodimentof the present invention, all of the elements of the present invention,including the side-wall members 2 and 3 and the rear-wall member orpanel 4, may be made of metal, and assembled and connected in any of theconvenient modes well-known in the art.

Extending between the upper ends of the forward edges of the side-wallmembers 2 and 3, and connecting the same, is a cross-member 5 whichprovides a strengthening effect and also serves to facilitate theseating of the top and frontal portions which will be later described.

(Cl. Z22-93') Disposed at the bottoms of the side-wall members 2 and 3andthe rear-wall member 4 is a plug 6 which connects these threeelementsand serves as a support for an linverted collapsible toothpastetube of conventional shape `and size. The plug El, whichl serves as thebottoml of the housing of the toothpaste dispenser of the invention hasa vertical bore 'I extending therethrough. The upper end ofthis bore Icommunicates with an enlarged recess 8 within which there is seated acentrally-apertured screwthreaded receptacle 9 which is constructed andarranged to receive the exteriorly screw-threaded end, or dispensingorifice, of the toothpaste tube.

The lower end of the vertical bore 7 of thev plug 6 projects from thelower end of the latter and is provided with a suitable cap or coverIIJ.

Along the forward edge of each ofthesidewall members 2 and 3, thereextends avertically disposed rack I2, the gear-teeth of which faceinwardly; and between these vertically disposed inwardly facing racksI2, there extends a horizontal shaft I3, one end of which extendsthrough, and projects from, an elongate vertical slot I4 in theside-wall member 3. This projecting end I5 of the horizontal shaft I3`has a winding key I6V secured to it. A pair of gears I8 are secured tothat portion of the horizontal shaft I3 which lies between the side-wallmembers 2 and 3, each of the said gears being disposed opposite one ofthe vertically disposed inwardly facing racks I 2 and adapted forconstant Yenmeshment therewiththrough the agency of a suitable biasingmeans, such as vertical guides 2I which may be attached to the side-wallmembers 2 and 3.

As previously stated,-one of the most important features of the presentinvention is extreme simplicity and elhciency in enabling the exchangeof an empty toothpaste tube for a full one, and towards these ends,there is provided an improved operating instrumentality in lieu of theconventional winding key of the prior art from which the collapsed andwound toothpaste tube` must be removed. More specifically, thisoperating instrumentality comprises a roller 23 which is loosely mountedon the midsection of the horizontal shaft I3. This roller 23 isconstructed and arranged for progressive downward movement with thehorizontal shaft I3 in such manner as to bear against, and progressivelysqueeze, the collapsible toothpaste tube from its y closed end to itsdispensing orifice. For all practical purposes, this roller 23 may behalf-round in cross-section, as shown in Figure 2. In any made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaim.

I claim:

In an apparatus for dispensing the contents of a collapsible tube, abase provided with a discharge outlet, a casing adapted for detachableassociation with said base, said casing comprising a rear wall and apair of interconnected parallel side walls, each of said side wallshaving a vertically extending recess,a removable verticalA transversepartition having its side edges adapted to seat v in the verticallyextending recesses in said paralextends between the side-wall members 2;and

3 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by means of verticalslots, or 'equivalent means. Y,

From the lower half of Figure l, it will be seen that, as the windingkey I6 is rotated clockwise, the gears I8 on the horizontal shaft i3will cause the latter to move downwardly and take with it the squeezingroller 23 which, as aforesaid, will squeeze the inverted collapsibletoothpaste tube between it and the partition 25; and this relationshipwill continue throughout the length of the contents within the saidtube.

Referring more particularly to the upper half of Figure l, the top andfrontal members of the housing of the improved toothpaste dispenser ofthe present invention are joined together,

-the composite portions being designated at 2 and 28 respectively. Onthe under side of the Vtop member 21 there is formed a cross-member 29which depends therefrom, and -which is adapted to ride in a pair ofvertical slots 3l formed adjacent the rearward portions of the upperedges of the side-wall members 2 and 3. The top member 21 is alsoprovided at its approximate center with a handle 3l, by means of whichit'may be conveniently removed.

Another feature of the device of the present invention is theconstruction and arrangement of the housing to provide means for holdingone or more toothbrushes in readily accessible man- This means mayconveniently take the form of a series of individual apertures, or anelongate slot 32, formed in the top vmember 21 and communicating withthe space between the removable partition 25 and the rear-wall member 4.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled inVthe art that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since variousmodifications may be `lel side walls and arranged in spaced relation tosaid rear wall, said parallel side walls being connected at their upperforward edges by a relatively narrow cross-member, means associated withsaid base for holding the collapsible tube in inverted position, each ofsaid parallel side walls being provided with a vertically extendingrack, one of said side walls having a vertical sloijl vdisposedrearwardly of its vertically extending rack, a horizontal shaft disposedwithin said casing and extending through said vertical slot,verticalguides on said side walls rearwardly of saidracks engageablewith said shaft, a pair of vgears on said shaft adapted for rotatableengagement with said racks, `means Vdisposed exteriorly of saidcasingfor enabling manual rotation of said shaft, a friction member mounted onsaid shaft for compressing a co1- lapsible tube, a' one-piecel L-shapedcover adapted to enclose the front-and top of said casing, said sidewalls being provided with oppositely disposed vertical slots in theirupper edges, a depending transverse member on said L-shaped coverreceivable in saidfslots, and said L-shaped cover having a slot in thehorizontal portion thereof which is vpositioned over the compartmentformed between therear wall and the vertical partition, saidlast-namedslot being adapted toreceive at least one toothbrush, and means forretaining said cover on said casing.

' ROY H. TEAL.

References citen in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

